Making merit means doing good things as mentioned in religious doctrine. Thais’ ways of life, since their birth until their death is so familiar with making merit. They strongly believe they ought to regularly make and gain merit which would bring them happiness, peaceful life and other good things. Gaining merit will strengthen them to overcome any obstacles or misfortune they are suffering. They intend to gain more merit because they also believe their accumulated merit would help them to be in heaven or a peaceful place after their death. Even more merit they gained would help them to reach nirvana (divine peace beyond this world).

          Thais’ belief is based on the Buddhist doctrine. The concept is as stated in a Thai proverb “if you do good you will receive good; if you do evil you will receive evil ”. It means the result of Karma which represents the evaluation of all life events, that is, you will receive the outcome of what you have already initiated.

          A common rule in making merit is to prepare one’s mind and thoughts.The mind has to be purified and ready. Gaining merit, however, must not bring any trouble or worry to oneself or others.

There are three ways of making and gaining merit. They are
   1) to give alms
   2) to maintain religious commandment, and
   3) to pray

          Making merit by giving alms has been part of Thais’ lifestyle for thousands of years. It is mentioned in two parts of Buddha history. First, when Buddha just became enlightened, he went to stay at a milky tree. Merchants named Tabussah and Palikah passed by and deeply admired the prestige of Buddha. They gave their provision to Buddha. Buddha used his bowl to receive food offered. Second, when Buddha went to the forest of mango trees, Anupiya district, province of Makadha. He went about with a bowl to receive food. When he passed King Pimpisana’s city of Rajgrah. The people in the city saw him doing this for the first time, So they brought food and put it into Buddha’s bowl. It became tradition until present. So we can see monks and novices carrying bowl pace the streets every morning. We can also see all kinds of people are willing to make merit which is to give alms, giving food to monks and novices.